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Transportation Info

There are many plane and train options for getting to the DC metropolitan area, but very limited public transportation options that'll get you the last 60 to 90 miles to Claymont. Having a ride is your best bet, and the organizers and jammers try to help coordinate shared rides if you can't arrange one. Here is info about routes to get there and leads on public transportation.

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It's terrific to concentrate on dancing and relaxing at a remote retreat, like Claymont, but getting there can be a trick. Below is info about DC-area transportation that'll get you closer to the jam.

Public ground transportation from the DC metro area to nearby Claymont is limited. For those needing rides, we do what we can to spread the word among registered jammers, to help find opportunities - contact the jam organizers for coordination help.

DC Metro Area Airports

Of the three DC metropolitan-area airports, Dulles (IAD) and Reagan National (DCA) are generally much preferable, as they're nearer to the jam and along the travel routes of more driving jammers. Please aim for one of those two, and aim to be at the airport between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm on the first day of the jam, if possible. We will try to coordinate car pools from the airport, but depend on jammers who are travelling around the right time, so finding suitable flights is crucial.

If you are attempting to get closer to Claymont by public transportation, you will need to travel to Washington Union Station, where you can catch a regional train to Harpers Ferry, WV.

Dulles is around an hour to an hour and a half from Claymont Court, quite convenient for pickup by jammers driving from northern Virginia. However, there is no direct public transportation to Claymont from there - without a car you'll need to use Dulles ground transport back towards DC center.

BWI is around two hours from Claymont Court. The airport is connected by rail (Amtrak and MARC Penn Line) to Union Station. (Visit the BWI ground transportation page for more details.) As mentioned above, the other two airports are better choices for coordinating rides from the airport to the jam (and back).

Train Travel from DC to near Claymont (Harpers Ferry)

Two agencies run inexpensive (< $15 one-way) train service from DC Union Station to Harpers Ferry, WV, which is around 12 miles from Claymont. We may be able to arrange for pick-ups from the station, though we'd prefer to have jammers arrange ride-shares.

The Brunswick Line of the MARC Train service runs weekdays only. Three departures in the late afternoon and early evening, starting around 4:25 pm, serve Harpers Ferry. The trip takes about 1 hour 40 minutes.

This long-distance train between DC and Chicago also stops at Harpers Ferry. The train leaving DC (in the ticket finder, From=WAS) daily at 4:05pm arrives in Harpers Ferry (To=HFY) at 5:16pm - run the finder on the Amtrak Capitol Limited page to make sure the schedule hasn't changed.

Arranging return-to-DC rides for after the jam is generally easy during the group gatherings on the last few days of the jam, when everyone is around and plans are clear. As far as public transit, the only return trip from Harpers Ferry to DC on Sunday, last day of the jam, is the Amtrak train around 11:30am (schedule not reliable because the train is at the end of a long overnight run).

MARC and Amtrak tickets must be purchased from a vending machine in Union Station. A penalty fare is charged if you board the train without a ticket.

Kams Taxi in Charles Town (304 279 5822) costs about $17 from Harpers Ferry to Charles Town. That would come out to about $25 to Claymont, which is about half as far again on the far side of Charles Town. They simply charge by the taxi meter, and would send a cab to meet the train if they had an hour's notice.

Here's a google map of the route from the Harpers Ferry Amtrak stop to the Claymont mansion.

Please let us know well in advance if you plan to travel to Harpers Ferry via train; it may be possible for us to help coordinate a ride.

Traveling by Bicycle

An attractive bicycle path along the Potomac River covers most of the distance between DC and Claymont. Use Google Maps for directions. Warning: the ride is 75 miles long and takes at least a full day for a conditioned rider. Make sure you set out early in the morning and arrive by nightfall. It is not easy to find Claymont in the dark if you are not familiar with the area.

Overnight Accommodations in DC

If you're seeking overnight accommodations in DC for a day or two before or after the jam, contact the organizers for leads and also consider arranging inexpensive accommodations for yourself at places like Hostelling International. (We would be interested to hear suggestions about other accommodations, and reports about how any such work our, to flesh out this info.)